The Problem With Almost-Finished Survey Reports

We’ve all got jobs that are almost finished. The difficult part is done and there’s just a little tidying up left before we can move on.

Except that little bit of tidying up has a habit of taking considerably longer than expected.

Survey reports are no exception.

The Report Is Written. Now What?

You’ve completed the inspection, prepared the report and checked your findings. All that remains is to put everything into the correct format.

You need to insert the photographs, sort out the tables, check the headings and make sure the page numbering is behaving itself.

Then someone asks you to make a small amendment. Suddenly, the table has moved, the photographs are out of place and half the afternoon has disappeared.

It’s not particularly difficult work. It’s simply time-consuming.

A Growing Problem With Speech-to-Text

As more surveyors use speech-to-text, we suspect there will be more reports reaching this almost-finished stage. We’ve already written about where speech-to-text still falls short.

The technology can help produce a first draft quickly, but it doesn’t always follow the firm’s preferred formatting. Some tools can now work with templates and structured documents, but results vary depending on the software and the complexity of the report.

That leaves a certain amount of work to be done before the document can be issued and somebody has to do it.

Let Someone Else Finish It

This is where outsourced survey report typing and formatting can be useful. You can send us your draft, together with your preferred template and any additional instructions.

Our experienced typists can take care of the document production, applying the correct formatting and preparing the report for your final review.

You remain responsible for the technical content and approval of the report. We deal with the presentation.

A Better Use of the Working Day

There’s a difference between spending time on a report because it requires your professional expertise and spending time on it because Microsoft Word refuses to co-operate.

The first is unavoidable. The second can often be handed over. Read Fee Earner or Typist? if you want to see why the distinction matters.

If you’ve got several almost finished reports sitting on your desk, perhaps it’s time to send a few our way.

BackupTyping provides survey report typing services, document formatting and professional transcription throughout the UK.

Contact us on 020 7096 1663 or at hello@backuptyping.co.uk.

What Does a Property Typing Company Actually Do These Days?

If you search online for a property typing company, you’ll find plenty of businesses offering audio transcription and that’s certainly part of what we do.

But it doesn’t really describe the full service anymore.

For many of our clients, typing is only one part of the work they send us.

From Dictation to Finished Document

Traditional transcription is a straightforward yet professional skill. You dictate a report, send us the recording and we prepare the document in your chosen format.

At BackupTyping, we work with chartered surveyors and other property professionals who need accurate transcription and reliable turnaround times. Our earlier article What Is an Audio Typist? explains why industry experience matters.

But not every assignment begins with a recording. Some clients send us handwritten notes, others send scanned documents that need converting into editable Word files. Increasingly, we’re receiving drafts produced using speech-to-text.

The starting point may be different, but the requirement is usually the same: a professionally prepared document.

More Than Audio Transcription

Our property typing services include document formatting, copy typing, photographic schedules and specialist report production.

We can work with your existing Word, Excel or PowerPoint templates, maintaining your preferred headings, layout and formatting. That consistency is particularly important for larger firms where reports may be prepared by several surveyors but need to follow the same company standards.

We also provide proofreading and quality checks as part of our document production process. Where something is unclear or needs technical confirmation, we will refer it back to the client rather than making assumptions.

Working Alongside Your Existing Team

Outsourcing doesn’t have to mean handing over everything. You might have an excellent in-house administrator but need additional help during busy periods.

Perhaps your surveyors prefer preparing their own drafts but would rather someone else dealt with the formatting. Or you may have a particularly large dilapidations schedule that needs producing quickly.

We can work alongside your existing arrangements without expecting you to change the way your business operates.

A Specialist Service

We’ve worked in property transcription and document production for more than 25 years. Our typists are familiar with the terminology, document types and formatting requirements used throughout the property industry.

We’re not here to tell you how to prepare your reports. We’re here to help you get them finished.

If you’re looking for a property typing company that understands surveying documents, call BackupTyping on 020 7096 1663 or email at hello@backuptyping.co.uk.